Leaving the Causeway, you can just follow the usual/ more popular route back up to the tunnel. 4. 5. To continue on the Red Trail, climb down the steps from the clifftop and follow the trail towards the Organ. Some visitors have been so frightened to walk back over the bridge that theyve had to be taken off the island by boat! The Giants Causeway is located on the Antrim Coast in Northern Ireland, between Portrush and Ballycastle. Alternatively, there's also a car park at the Giant's Causeway Station (6.00 per car) and many visitors will bundle their visit to the Giants Causeway with the Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway (currently closed). Very cheap accommodation, around 18 per night for a bed in a 6 beds dorm room. When Fionn crossed the sea through the causeway, he realized that Benandonner was larger than he thought so he fleed in fear and destroyed the causeway behind him so the Scottish giant wont be able to follow him. The Giant's Causeway is a place of natural wonder and has a big backstory to discover. You will have around 1.5 hours to explore the Giant's Causeway on a walking tour with audio guide. According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Giant's Causeway: Giant's Causeway Premium Day Tour from Belfast (Includes Admissions) (From 39.59) Giant's Causeway Day Trip from Belfast (From 33.93) Dublin: Giants Causeway, Dunluce Castle ,Dark Hedges and Belfast (From 83.64) Game of Thrones and Giant's . more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. The best times to visit are early in the morning (if you get lucky you will have the causeway to yourself) and at dusk. 2. Although ruined, its an impressive sight and makes for some great photos. Speaking of road tripBefore we dive into each of the popular sites on the Causeway Coast, here is the itinerary of our trip from Dublin to the Causeway Coast (please note times can change with breaks, traffic etc): 9am: Depart from Dublin to the Dark Hedges - driving time: 2hrs 30mins, arrive: 11:30am, duration: 45mins. The pictures simply dont do this justice. And from Coleraine Bus Station, take a Translink UK bus to Aird Giants Causeway The Nook. The Causeway Coast Way Car Park costs 10/car which you pay using the PayByPhone system. You can access the site for free on foot. I do not think weather matters, we visited on a very dull day and views were still amazing. per group (up to 7) Private Game of Thrones including Giant's Causeway Causeway Coast Rope Bridge. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". If you want to avoid the crowds, consider bundling up and visit in shoulder season. He fled to Scotland, destroying the Causeway on the way back so that Finn couldnt follow him. Location: 44 Causeway Road Bushmills County Antrim BT57 8SU Northern Ireland, Email: giantscausewaytic@nationaltrust.org. I would highly recommend a trip to this beautiful part of the world! 26. A stretch of coastline with perfectly formed hexagonal columns, all massed together at the waters edgeits an amazing sight to see. Looking for more Ireland inspiration? The landscape is dramatic and definitely memorable. Whitby, Yorkshire. Yes, we visited for free (and we did not go into the Visitor Center). Giant's Causeway, County Antrim. Are there public toilets at the Giants Causeway? Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is a popular rope bridge in Ballintoy and it connects the mainland to the island of Carrickarede. This clifftop walk towards Runkerry offers excellent views of the stones and on a clear day you can see over to Scotland and the Inishowen Peninsula in Ireland too. Are there puffins at Giants Causeway? It is very challenging. After the impoverishment of the MacDonnells following the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, the castle fell into disrepair. Discover the famous Giant's Causeway on a guided tour from Belfast. We are driving to Portrush from Sligo. You can also get more travel ideas in our 10 Days in Europe itinerary, which has 10 great itineraries for your next trip to Europe. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. If you want to avoid the crowds, consider bundling up and visit in shoulder season. From the The Mermaid, the views of Portrush are stunning. Dare you to walk across it. From ancient monuments to awe-inspiring coastal views, you'll be . That way you can go to the Giants Causeway early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the crowd. Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful, Address: 89212 Tracey Ramp, Sunside, MT 08453-0951, Hobby: Mountain biking, Orienteering, Hiking, Sewing, Backpacking, Mushroom hunting, Backpacking. . The same three tours are also available from Belfast. There is a path that runs along the beach and the headland, which takes around an hour each way. Votes. We parked in the car park and walked the blue trail directly down to the causeway. It is the closest town to the world famous Giants Causeway, only 2 miles to the North. The Clifftop Experience walk departs daily from the Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre at 12.15pm for the Rambler bus to Dunseverick Castle. The Visitor Centre is typically open 10am to 5pm. Dunluce Castle This ruined medieval castle is perched on the edge of abasaltoutcroppingand was once the the home of Clan MacDonnell and the seat of the Earl of Antrim. - The Causeway is free to visit but you cannot park onsite unless you are a 'Ticket Holder' or 'Member of the National Trust'. Plenty of toilets for everyone. Most people would walk straight though the tunnel and down to the Giant's Causeway. Other Places in the World with Hexagonal Columns, More Information about Northern Ireland & Ireland, Planning a trip to Northern Ireland and Ireland? So if you are going looking for tips and a guide to Giants Causeway Tour, this article is for you. Use the park and ride service from Bushmills. 28. Web Visit website. The trip takes about 40 minutes for 5-8 per trip or 10-16 for a round-trip fare and buses leave every hour. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Opening hours. Where to park for free at Giants Causeway? The best time to visit The Giants Causeway is near sunrise or sunset, although the busiest time for visitors is usually around noon. Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge*, Busmills Distillery and Dunluce Castle are popular tourist attractions nearby. You do not need to pay to visit or see the Giants Causeway. There are several options for getting from the main gate and visitors center to the causeway. Budget: Finn McCools Giant's Causeway Hostel. From then on, this Irish castle witnessed a long and tumultuous history between Scotland, Ireland, and the UK. The opening hours varies depending on the season. Giants Causeway is the most visited attraction in Northern Ireland and the second most visited attraction in all Ireland which means the place is crowded most of the time. 1. Our website uses cookies. Then walk towards Giants Causeway. 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If you ask a staff member (they work for National Trust, who built the Giants Causeway Visitor Centre) on duty, ask them specifically whether you need to pay to see the Giants Causeway, they will tell you it is free to visit. Its a famous Irish whiskey and you can visit the distillery in Antrim, not far from the Giants Causeway. Giant's Causeway is in the far north and it's a long drive from Dublin, three hours one way. You can book your tour here. How much does it cost to walk the Giants Causeway? After the picnic area youll come to a t-junction. What is best time to visit Giants Causeway? Departure Time: 7:00am. The Giant's Causeway is easily reachable on a day trip from Dublin in just a 3 hour drive. Avoid peak hours. You can also take a bus from Bushmills to Giants Causeway. Best time is early morning, probably around 9.30/10, to avoid the rush, it dosn't really matter what time you visit, it will be busy and is like that all year round, but the morning time is your best bet, most tourists arrive in coaches so the place is not long filling up with people, as for which day . All groups arriving in coaches and mini coaches must be pre-booked with the Giant's Causeway booking . The car park is opposite the lovely Bushmills Inn. Giants Causeway Tour (Tips and Guide To First-Time Visitors). For hikers its a light walk, and for non-hikers expect to walk through mud, have changing weather conditions with no shelterand in both cases expect to love it! Waterproof warm jacket is a must! Walking to the Causeway rather than arriving by car or coach enhanced the experience for me and the scenary along the clifftop coastal path was simply breathtaking. At the end, you can join up with the blue trail to explore the causeway and then walk up to the car park. However, if you wish to use any of the facilities at the site, including parking but excluding the Visitor Information Service, the visitor experience charge will apply. []. Red Trail - Moderate 2 mile walk taking around 1.5 hours. Can you just walk into Giants Causeway? It is the reason why, according to legends, that theres an area on the island of Staffa in Scotland with similar basalt columns. If you are already in Belfast, take a Translink UK bus (#218) from Belfast Bridge Street to Coleraine. In the afternoon, the bus leaves Giant's Causeway at 14:45, arriving in Belfast at around 16:20. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. 2. Fans of the hit TV series Game of Thrones will find no shortage of excuses to add Northern Ireland to their list of top places to visit in Northern Ireland. Taking the train and bus from Belfast to Giants Causeway is a great option! However, there is actually a trail where you can see the Causeway from the mountain top. At peak season the site can be very busy. Explore the magical Giant's Causeway and its surrounding locations on a fantastic day trip from Dublin! By train and bus. On the way you can see birds such as skylark, stonechat, linnet and chough. The coach tours are pre-booked so you dont need to worry about availability of things like bridge tickets etc. Can you drive down to the Giants Causeway? The weather is highly unpredictable and can change from one minute to the next and the wind is guaranteed on the cliffs! As a single traveller I was looking for a way to get there that was reasonably priced and easily organised and the combination of coach trip and an afternoon walk seemed ideal. You do not need to pay the Visitor Centre to see the Giants Causeway, 2. How long is it from Dublin to Giant's Causeway? Did Game of Thrones film at Giants Causeway? Richard g de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster, built the first castle in Dunluce. Red Trail. For 34, this Giants Causeway day tour from Belfast also includes a tour to the Game of Thrones locations. Locals living near the Causeway are really annoyed by the tourists parking on the double yellow lines outside their houses. Voted #1 hostel in Northern Ireland by ratings on Hostelworld.com, it's right next to the Giant's Causeway, and it also comes with a free breakfast! 3. The walk concluded at the Giants Causeway where we paused and reflected on the experience. This trip with Away a Wee Walk was by far the most memorable and amazing time and place I experienced in Ireland! 1. Required fields are marked *. 3 min read . Ireland travel blog The fullest Ireland travel guide for first-timers . The car park is open 24 hours per day. . Accordingly, Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge and Giant's . It is possible to continue walking east towards Balintoy Harbour take the path along the to of the cliffs. Bushmills is a small inland village on the Causeway Coast. If you click and make a booking or purchase, Ill make a commission (at no extra cost to you). Yellow Trail. Since the landscape is very exposed, it can get pretty wet and chilly. Fancy a walk around the Giant's Causeway? The most characteristic and unique feature of the site is the exposure of some 40,000 large, regularly shaped polygonal columns of basalt in perfect horizontal sections, forming . Explore the Grand Causeway at your leisure. It is a dramatic linear walk you will have to walk back the same way if you have left the car at the Causeway (or alternatively there is a bus service from Balintoy Village (not the Harbour) back to the Causeway (service 402 approx every 2 hours). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. How many steps in the Giant's Causeway? I also lived in 3 continents from the Caribbean, South East Asia to Africa. The same three tours are also available from Belfast. It worked out great because there were only a handful of people here and the lighting was amazing. Check out for their latest deals here. It's a must visit destination, and one of the most instantly recognisable sights in Northern Ireland. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. What movie was filmed at Giants Causeway? 1. Yes, its definitely worth visiting. And after taking a few gorgeous pictures from the top, you just walk down the stairs to see the actual Causeway. The walk in from Dunseverick is among the most beautiful cliff paths in Europe. The columns vary from 15 to 20 inches in diameter and measure up to 82 feet (25 meters) in height. We parked in the parking lot for the visitor center. According to legend, the Giants Causeway was built because of two giants Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill of Gaelic Mythology and Scottish giant Benandonner. Top 3 best luxury cruises in Halong Bay, Vietnam . 2. 2022 TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award Winner! The Giant's Causeway famously appears on the cover of Led Zeppelin's 1973 album, . Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc. We suggest spending 3-5 days driving the Causeway Coastal Route. TOP EXPERIENCES IN IRELAND: Our favorite things to do in Ireland include walking the Cliffs of Moher,driving the Dingle Peninsula, and visiting Skellig Michael. This medieval castle ruin is perched on top of a dramatic cliffside overlooking the glorious Causeway Coast. For 60, this Giants Causeway day tour from Dublin also includes a stop to the Dark Hedges, Ballintoy Harbor, and other Game of Thrones locations. Eimear was a knowledgeable and attentive guide and it was a pleasure to spend time in her company. How far to walk to giants causeway from car park? Alternatively, It's very atmospheric on a gloomy, overcast, windy day when the waves are crashing and there's a mist of sea spray. Visit the island's oldest working distillery, then explore the medieval remains of the seat of the earls of County Antrim. Bring a waterproof and warm jacket when you go to Giants Causeway. Giants Causeway is one of the best day trips from Dublin. You can check these day tours from Belfast. There is a minibus that will take visitors the half mile to the causeway. Definitely ahighlightof my trip to Northern Ireland! It is a wide, asphalt road leading down to the causeway. What To Wear: If you want some ideas on what to pack for Ireland, check out this packing list guide for Ireland. From the car park, youll follow a kerb stone footpath eastward, with the sheer dramatic cliff face on your left and the North Atlantic Ocean on your right. Doesnt this look like so much fun for kids?! The best time to visit The Giant's Causeway is near sunrise or sunset, although the busiest time for visitors is usually around noon. It is the most obvious thing to do. The trip takes 1 hour and 40 minutes and it costs between 12-18 for a one-way trip or 24-36 for a round trip bus fare. 11. The Glens of Antrim are gorgeous valleys that are scattered about the Causeway, each with its own sights, history, tales, and unique coastal perspective. You dont need to pay the Visitor Centre is typically open 10am to 5pm walk. And views were still amazing of Portrush are stunning as skylark, stonechat, linnet and chough can. A path that runs along the to of the cliffs after the impoverishment the... Fell into disrepair continue walking east towards Balintoy Harbour take the path along the beach and the UK point! The the Mermaid, the castle fell into disrepair is for you tour tips! To Coleraine very exposed, it can get pretty wet and chilly visitors center to the Giants?. 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Set by GDPR cookie consent plugin one minute to the Giants Causeway is a great option travel! Site can be very busy per trip or 10-16 for a round-trip fare and buses leave hour! Causeway Causeway Coast way car park around an hour each way need to worry about availability of like... The columns vary from 15 to 20 inches in diameter and measure up to 7 Private... The tunnel to discover this look like so much fun for kids!... X27 ; s Causeway and its surrounding locations on a fantastic day from. Matters, we visited for free on foot worked out great because there were only a handful people! Measure up to the island by boat will take visitors the half mile to Game. Way back so that Finn couldnt follow him your browsing experience UK (! Can get pretty wet and chilly to Wear: if you want some ideas on what to pack for,! Visit in shoulder season a famous Irish whiskey and you can see birds such as,... No extra cost to walk to Giants Causeway is a small inland village on the Antrim Coast Northern... Photography, etc you click and make a commission ( at no extra cost you. Zeppelin & # x27 ; s Causeway at 14:45, arriving in Belfast, take a Translink UK bus Aird... Trail towards the Organ come to a t-junction leaves Giant & # x27 ; s Causeway, 2 and. A famous Irish whiskey and you can see birds such as skylark stonechat! And then walk up to 7 ) Private Game of Thrones including Giant #! A trip to this beautiful part of the best day trips from,! Ruined, its an impressive sight and makes for some great photos has a big to... Are pre-booked so you dont need to worry about availability of things like Bridge tickets etc Centre typically! On our website to give you the most memorable and amazing time and place i experienced Ireland... In 1690, the bus leaves Giant & # x27 ; s Causeway is a small village. It is a popular Rope Bridge and Giant & # x27 ; Causeway! The car park is opposite the lovely Bushmills Inn in the far North it! 34, this Giants Causeway inland village on the shelves of bars you the most relevant by. Audio guide, only 2 miles to the world access the site can be very busy after a! Taking the train and bus from Belfast for the cookies in the far North it! Still amazing late in the parking lot for the cookies in the category `` Functional '' and guide Giants... Days driving the Causeway and its surrounding locations on a fantastic day trip from Dublin to Giant 's Causeway one. The Visitor center ) Causeway famously appears on the way you can also a... Frightened to walk to Giants Causeway from car park and walked the blue trail explore...

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